Container System

ABSTRACT

A container system includes a tray support unit and at least one tray. The tray is received in tray guides of the tray support unit that allow the tray to extend from and retract into the tray support unit. The tray support unit includes two arms that are biased toward one another to facilitate removable attachment of the container system to a fixed item without the need for tools or hardware. The tray may comprise a plurality of apertures for securely receiving a plurality of items within the tray. Additional tray guides may attach to the tray guides of the support unit to allow additional trays to be incorporated on the tray support unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure claims priority under 35 United States Code, Section 119 on the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/509,466, filed on Jul. 19, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a container system, and more particularly, to a container system for holding a plurality of pods or other individual items.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Storage of food and beverage items at home or the workplace is a longstanding concern generally. As new products are introduced, the concern is compounded, as new products may require new storage solutions. Consumers prefer tidy and efficient storage solutions generally, and the introduction of new products prompts the need for storage mechanism to maintain tidy and efficient storage of these new products.

One recently-developed product that has seen significant success and popularity after its introduction is a “coffee pod,” which pod contains a single-serving of ground coffee, along with an optional filter. Such pods are placed in specially-designed coffee machines, which machines received a pod and subject the pod and ground coffee to heated water to brew the coffee, and then dispense the brewed coffee from the pod into a cup. These machines are popular at the home and work place for the great convenience that they provide—in providing coffee on demand and without the need to brew a whole pot of coffee.

Pods are generally configured as a disk or cup-shape, with a label or color-coding to indicate the particular flavors and/or blend of coffee therein. These pods are relatively small, and smaller than a standard-sized hockey puck, by way of reference. Pods are usually sold in bulk, rather than individually, and are often sold with as “variety packs,” i.e., with a plurality of different flavors and/or blends therein. Pods are usually packaged in a box, with the box being labeled with the type and number of the various pods contained therein.

While such packaging of pods is convenient for retail display, and for transporting pods from the place of purchase to a home or office, this packaging does not lend itself to easy access or storage of the pods for a user because, for instance, the packaging does not facilitate ready display of the variety of pods that may be in such packaging, and because such packaging may occupy more space than is necessary to show and represent the variety of flavors or blends that a user has purchased.

Certain attempts have been made to provide for organized storage of a plurality of items in limited space (such as a plurality of coffee pods). These attempts suffer from a number of drawbacks, however. While storage trays that may hold a plurality of items are known, such storage trays are not versatile for at least the reason that they are mechanically complex, because they require hardware to be installed at/attached to a location, and because they cannot be easily uninstalled and moved to a variety of different installation locations.

For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,712,696 shows a shelf-supported drawer arrangement. The drawer arrangement includes a means for removably attaching a housing from a shelf, however the arrangement requires a plurality of clamps that must attach to a plurality of sides of the shelf. The '696 patent requires a large number of parts to accomplish the installation of the drawer, and the requirement that clamps attach to more than one side of the shelf complicates the installation process.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,229 shows a secure storage desk drawer and installation clamp therefore. The installation clamp requires the separate fasteners (such as screws) for secure installation of the drawer to a desk. The use of these fasteners requires additional tools and that a user permanently alter the structure of the desk (by penetrating the desk surface with a fastener.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,762,636 shows a container storage assembly that allows drawers to be mounted under a surface. However, installation of the drawers is dependent drawer supports that are effectively permanently mounted to the structure in which the drawers may be installed.

Accordingly, a need exists for a container system that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, while maintaining the benefits of the prior art. A further need exists for a container system that may store, organize and display a plurality of coffee pods for a user, while providing such storage, organization, and display without occupying an unnecessary amount of space while not in use. Moreover, a need exists for a container system that may be quickly and easily attached or secured to (and removed from) a location or structure, so that a user may incorporate the container system in an existing structure or item of furniture, and which attaching or securing can be accomplished manually and quickly, and without any additional hardware, fasteners, or installation tools.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a container system configured to include all the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein.

Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to provide for a container system that is capable of holding a plurality of items in an organized fashion and in a confined space.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide for a container system that may be quickly and easily installed manually in a variety of locations and without the use of tools or hardware.

Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide for a container system that may be installed on and uninstalled from a fixed object without damaging the fixed object in the course of installation or removal.

Still another object is to provide for a container system that may display a plurality of items in a readily-viewable and accessible fashion regardless of the configuration of the fixed object to which the container system is attached.

To achieve the above objects, the present disclosure provides a container system, which container system is capable of holding a plurality of items in an organized and readily-viewable and accessible fashion. The container system comprises a tray support unit, which engagement unit is capable of removably attaching the container system to a fixed object. The tray support unit also receives a tray thereon. The tray support unit may securely attach to a fixed object and, so attached, may allow the tray to be selectively accessed by a user. Such selective access may be provided by a slidable connection between the tray and the tray support unit. In an embodiment, such slidable connection is accomplished by way of a slot and pin arrangement, wherein a slot or slots are disposed on the tray support unit, each of which slots receives a pin of the tray, such that the pin or pins the tray may move within the confines of the track or tracks to permit the tray to move in at least two directions with respect to the tray support unit and with respect to a fixed object to which the container system may attach.

The tray support unit is configured to securely attach to a fixed object (such as a shelf or desk) by way of exerting pressure and or friction on the fixed object. In an embodiment, the tray support unit comprises a clamp or “C” configuration, which configuration may be biased toward a closed position. The tray support unit comprises a flexible elastic material that permits the user to open the tray support unit sufficiently so that it may fit over and be positioned on a fixed object. After being positioned on a fixed object, if space remains between the tray support unit and the fixed item, the bias of the tray support unit toward a closed position will cause the tray support unit to securely attach to the fixed object.

The tray comprises a plurality of apertures, which each of which aperture may receive an item (such as a coffee pod) therein. The apertures may be of a configuration to complement the item that is received therein, so as to securely contain the item within the tray. The apertures may include a tapering or transitioning radius or perimeter to support the item received therein and to prevent the item received therein from passing or falling through the apertures. The apertures may also include, on at least a portion of the radius or perimeter thereof that is adjacent to the surface of the tray, a depression in which a user may insert his or her finger to provide leverage and otherwise assist in removing a stored item from the tray.

The tray may extend from the tray support unit to allow a user to view and access a plurality of items that have been stored therein. In an embodiment, the tray may tilt downwardly when fully extended from the tray support unit to facilitate additional ease of access to the items that are stored within the tray.

These together with other aspects of the present disclosure, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this present disclosure. For a better understanding of the present disclosure, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a container system with a tray thereof in a retracted position, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B shows a perspective view of a container system being secured to a fixed item, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a container system with a plurality of trays thereon, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows alternative configurations of a tray of a container system, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows a tray support unit of a container system attached to a fixed item and a tray of a container system in an extended and hinged position, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C show perspective views of a tray in unhinged and hinged positions, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The best mode for carrying out the present disclosure is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted in the accompanying figures. The preferred embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.

Unless limited otherwise, the terms “disposed,” “coupled,” “attached,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect arrangements. The term “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, elevation or importance, but rather are used to distinguish placement of one element over another. The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.

The present disclosure comprises a container system for holding and organizing a plurality of items (such as coffee pods.) The system comprises a tray unit for attachment to a fixed item and tray with a plurality of apertures therein, each of which aperture is configured to receive and retain an item therein. The system may be installed on a shelf or other existing piece of furniture by way of a clamping mechanism or other pressure or friction mechanism on the tray support unit and may be installed without the use of hardware or tools. The tray of the system may extend and retract from the tray support unit to facilitate access to the stored items and to keep the system and stored items isolated and out of the way when the system is not in use.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, and in an embodiment, a container system 100 comprises a tray 200 and a tray support unit 300. The tray support unit comprises an first arm 310 and second arm 320, which first and second arms 310 and 320 are connected by a joint 330. The tray support unit 300 formed from a sufficiently flexible material that permits the first and second arms 310 and 320 to be moved away from one another when a user so manipulates the arms, but otherwise biases the first and second arms 310 and 320 to close toward one another when no force is otherwise applied on the arms. This bias of the first and second arms 310 and 320 permits the tray support unit 300 to securely attach to a fixed item (as shown in FIG. 1B).

The tray support unit 300 further comprises a pair of tray guides 340, which tray guides 340 extend away from the second arm 320. The height of the tray guides 340 may be of a similar dimension to the height dimension of the tray 200. The tray guides 340 comprise engagement features for removable attachment of the tray 200 to on the tray support unit 300 and facilitate movement of the tray 200 with respect to the tray support unit 300. In an embodiment, engagement features of the tray guides 340 comprise slots 350 thereon, which slots are parallel to the second arm 320 and form an open region along at least a portion of the length of the tray guides 340. The slots 350 are configured to receive a pin or knob (to be described below) of the tray 200 to limit and direct the movement of the tray 200 with respect to the tray support unit 300. The tray guides further comprise a pin or a knob 360 thereon, which pin or knob 360 may correspond to a slot (to be described below) of a tray 200. In a preferred embodiment, pin or knob 360 of the tray support unit 300 is disposed at an end of tray guide 340 that is proximate to the hinge 330 of the tray support unit 300.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the tray guides 340 that are attached to the second arm 320 of the tray support unit 300 may further comprise fastener arrangements 342 on a side of the tray guides 340 that is distal to the second arm 320 of the tray support unit. Such fasteners 342 may receive complementary fastener arrangements 343 of additional (standalone) tray guides 345 (shown in FIG. 2) which standalone tray guides are otherwise similarly configured to tray guides 340, such that additional tray guides may be removably attached to the tray guides 340 for accommodating additional trays 200 in the container system 100. Exemplary fastener arrangements include corresponding slots and tabs that facilitate a snap-fit arrangement between tray guides 320 and standalone tray guides 345.

Referring again to FIG. 1A, the tray support unit 310 further may comprise friction elements 370 on at least one of the first and second arms 310 and 320, and more specifically on a side of a first or second arm that is proximate to the other arm. Shown in FIG. 1 and in an exemplary embodiment, friction elements 370 are disposed on the first arm 310 and second arm 320. Friction elements 370 provide for secure attachment of the tray support unit 310 to a fixed item. In an embodiment, the friction elements 370 comprise rubberized pads.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the tray 200 of a container system 100 comprises a substantially planar region 210 in or on which items may be received and stored. The tray preferably comprises a plurality of apertures 220 within the planar region 210. The apertures 220 may be configured to correspond to the shape of a particular item (such as a coffee pod, for example) such that an item with the shape that corresponds to the configuration of the aperture 220 may be securely retained within the aperture 220 of the tray 200. The aperture 220 may include inwardly tapering walls or a rim or shelf in an inner perimeter thereof to correspond to the shape of the item to be retained in the aperture 220, for facilitating secure retention of an item within the aperture 220, and/or to prohibit an item from falling through the aperture 220 of the tray 200. Aperture 220 may further comprise a depression in the planar region 210 along a portion of the perimeter of the aperture 220, which depression may provide space in which a user may insert a finger or lever to assist with removing a stored item from the aperture 220 as needed.

In another embodiment, planar region 210 of tray is bounded by walls at a perimeter of planar region 210 that rise upwardly away from planar region 210 of tray 200.

The tray 200 may be formed from plastic or lightweight metal or metal alloy, or any other material that provides sufficient structural integrity to receive and hold a plurality of items thereon or within. It will be apparent that the dimensions of the tray 200 will correspond to the dimensions of the tray support unit 300 such that the tray 200 may be securely received by the tray guides 340 of the tray support unit 300.

The tray 200 further comprises engagement features for removable attachment to the tray guides 340 of the tray support unit 300. In a preferred embodiment, the engagement features of the tray 200 comprise slots 250 thereon, which slots 250 are on sides 252 and 253 of the tray 200 that are perpendicular to the planar region 210 of the tray 200. The slots 250 are configured to align with the tray guides 340 of the tray support unit 300. The slots 250 form an open region along at least a portion of the length of sides 252 and 253 of the tray 200. The slots 250 are configured to receive a pin or knob 360 of the tray guides 340 to limit and direct the movement of the tray 200 with respect to the tray support unit 300. The tray sides 252 and 253 tray guides may further comprise a pin or a knob 260 thereon, which pin or knob 260 may correspond to the 350 slot of the tray guides 340. In a preferred embodiment, pin or knob 260 is disposed at an end of the tray sides 252 and 254 that is distal to the joint 330 of the tray support unit 300 (when the tray 200 is installed on the tray support unit 300.)

The slots 250 of the tray 200 are parallel to the planar region 210 of the tray, except for at the terminus of each slot 250 that is distal to the joint 330 of the tray support unit 300 (when the tray 200 is installed on the tray support unit 300.) At said terminus, each slot 250 includes a section 258 thereof that is perpendicular to the planar region 210, which section 250 extends toward the tray support unit 300 (when the tray 200 is installed on the tray support unit 300.)

To install the tray 200 on the tray support unit 300, a user aligns tray 200 within tray guides 340 such that slots 250 of tray 200 receive pin or knob 360 of tray guides 340 in slots 250, and such that slots 350 of tray guides 340 receive pin or knob of the tray 200. It will be apparent that the tray guides 340 are sufficiently pliable to permit installation (and removal) of tray 200. With the tray 200 so installed, a user may slidably move the tray nearer to and away from tray support unit 300.

Referring now to FIG. 4, in an embodiment, when the tray 200 is fully extended away from tray support unit 300, the pin or knob 360 of tray guides 340 will be disposed in the slot section 258 of tray 200 (as will be shown in FIG. 5C), such that the tray 200 may hingably move away from the tray support unit 300 to allow additional access to the items that may be stored within the tray 200.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, views of a tray 200 in an unhinged and hinged position are shown, along with an exemplary mechanism that facilitates hinging of the tray 200. FIG. 5A shows a tray 200 in a partially extended position (with respect to the tray support unit 300). FIG. 5B shows a tray 200 in a fully extended position (with respect to the tray support unit 300). FIG. 5C shows a tray 200 in an extended and hinged position (with respect to the tray support unit 300). In this embodiment, when the tray 200 is fully extended (as shown in FIG. 5B), pin or knob 360 of tray guides 340 will be immediately adjacent to the slot section 258 of tray 200. When pin or knob 360 of tray guides 340 will be immediately adjacent to the slot section 258 of tray 200, tray 200 may be pivoted such that pin or knob 360 of tray guides 340 is consequently positioned in slot section 258 of tray 200, such that the tray 200 may be moved into a hinged position (which position is shown in FIG. 5C).

It will be apparent that the tray guides 350 and first and second arms 310 and 320 of the tray support unit are so configured that the tray guides 350 (and tray 200 that attaches thereto) may be disposed on the underside or top side of a shelf to which the first and second arms 310 and 320 may attach the container system.

The container system 100 as described herein has the advantages of providing a lightweight and removably attachable system for receiving, organizing, and storing items (such as coffee pods) at a location preferred by a user. The system 100 also provides for an organized presentation of stored items (such as coffee pods) so that user can readily view and select a particular item for use, and for inconspicuous storage of the pods when a user does not have an immediate need for a pod or pods. Furthermore, the removable attachment of the system 100 allows a user to transport and/or adjust attachment of the system easily and quickly, so that the user can move the system 100 to a different location as desired or needed. This transporting and adjustment of the system does not require tools or hardware (rather, just the application of pressure on the arms of tray support unit 300), such that fixed items to which the system 100 may be attached are not damaged or altered by such attachment and such that a user does not require a stock of tools nearby to attach or remove the system 100 from a fixed item.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

1. A container system, the system comprising a tray support unit and at least one tray, wherein said tray support unit comprises a first arm and a second arm biased toward one another such that the first and second arm of the tray support may securely and removably attach said container system to a fixed item, wherein said tray support unit comprises at least one pair of tray guides for removably receiving said at least one tray within said tray support unit, wherein said at least one pair of tray guides comprise fastener arrangements for removably attachment of at least one pair of tray guides to at least one other pair of tray guides, and wherein said tray support unit and said tray comprises complementary engagement features such that said at least one tray may retract toward or extend away from said tray support unit when said at least one tray is received within said at least one pair of tray guides.
 2. The container system of claim 1, wherein said at least one tray further comprises a plurality of apertures thereon.
 3. The container system of claim 1, wherein said tray support unit further comprises at least one frictional element on at least one of a first arm and a second arm thereof.
 4. The container system of claim 1, wherein the complementary engagement features of said at least one tray and said at least pair of tray guides comprises a slot and pin arrangement.
 5. The container system of claim 1, wherein said tray is hingably moveable when extended away from said tray support unit.
 6. The container system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of said apertures of said tray further comprise an inwardly-directed taper in the interior perimeter of each aperture of the plurality apertures. 